Year One
Chapter 2: Train Rides & Sweets

"YOU'RE A WITCH!?" both Madeline and Violet exclaimed in unison.

Others around them gave them curious looks, but didn't comment as the two girls clashed together in a hug. "Oh my god!" Madeline exclaimed. "Why didn't you tell me?"

They pulled apart a little, taking the sight of each other with wide grins. "Probably for the same reason you didn't tell me!"

Madeline was so happy she couldn't be bothered to remember that Violet had never said where exactly she'd gotten admitted to. Just then a large group of older boys were trying to make their way down the aisle, so Maddy and Vi slipped into the compartment Maddy had claimed. Stormageddon waited for them inside and growled a bit at the sight of Violet's owl, Crone. "Oh hush, Storm!" Maddy waved a hand at the black cat. "I can't believe it! You're here!"

"Right? I thought this was going to be the end of our friendship!"

"Oh come on! We would've stayed friends over summer break!"

"Yeah, but it would've put a bit of a strain on things if you had been muggle and I woulda had to keep avoiding questions like where I went to school, what I was learning, and why I have an owl as a pet."

"True," Maddy commented, stroking Storm's back to calm her.

Crone hooted softly from her cage and Vi absently dug an owl treat out from her pocket. The two girls kept talking, as the train finally pulled out of Kings Cross Station, sending them on their way to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. About two hours into the trip an elderly witch came around offering sweets and drinks from a cart. Between the two of them, Maddy and Vi managed to get one of everything to try. They discovered that cauldron cakes, pumpkin juice, chocolate frogs, and (some) Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans were excellent, while others like ice mice and blood lollies they could do without.

Around six o'clock, an older girl with blond hair knocked on their door. She already had on her school robes and had red and gold accents on her clothing. "Hello! I'm Victoire Weasley, prefect!" she introduced herself with a slight French accent. "You're muggleborn, no?"

Familiar with the term from Tilda's introduction, both girls nodded. "Excellent!" the blond grinned. "It's good to see new witches and wizards popping up more and more often! What are your names?"

"Madeline."

"Violet."

"Let me be the first to say welcome to Hogwarts!" she smiled. "Anyway, I just wanted to let you know we're close to Hogwarts, so I would advise getting changed into your school robes." She moved to leave. "Oh!" her head popped back in. "And if anyone gives you a hard time, just let me know! That's what I'm here for! Nice meeting you!" They could hear her admonishing a boy for trying to trip people a few compartments down as she left.

"She seems nice!" Madeline smiled.

"Yeah! And by the colors of her robes, she was a Gryffindor."

"How'd you know that?"

"Honestly, Maddy… I read it in Hogwarts: A Revised History. Got it when I went to get my spellbooks."

Maddy rolled her eyes at her friend's attitude, but didn't stop smiling. "So what other options are there? And what's a Gryffindor?"

Vi proceeded to explain the Hogwarts houses to her friend as they changed into their school robes. She told Maddy about the founders, the values for their houses, their colors, as well as the objects of theirs that Voldemort had turned into horcruxes during the war that ended seventeen years ago. Finally she finished with, "I hope I'm in Ravenclaw."

Maddy nodded. "Yeah, Ravenclaw would be okay, but Gryffindor sounds awesome! Being brave and whatnot. Or maybe Hufflepuff?"

"What? No Slytherin?" Vi teased.

"Well, it kinda sounds like muggleborns aren't really wanted there…" Maddy trailed off.

"Yeah, but that's okay, there's three other houses!"

Soon enough, the train started to slow and eventually came to a stop. The ride had been long enough that dusk was settling in, and the lights were on at the platform as they got off. A loud booming voice echoed through the air making them jump. "Firs' years this way!"

Maddy and Vi looked around to find a giant of a man with a massive head of hair and beard to match. It looked like it had all been a chestnut brown to begin with, but now was streaked with grey. He stood head and shoulders above the crowd as he waved his lantern to gain the attention of the first years. "Wow," Maddy muttered.

"Come along, firs' years!" he called out yet again. Once a decent number of people had gathered around him, the man grinned and said, "Righ' then. Name's Rubeus Hagrid. Professor Hagrid ter you lot though! Now come along! Follow me!" He led them along the platform and onto a path that cut through a small wooded area. "You'll be wantin' ter watcher yer step up here! Bit muddy from the rain past few days."

Sure enough, the ground became squishy and Maddy and Vi had to watch where they were walking for fear of mud puddles. Eventually they reached the shore of a massive lake surrounded by trees. Several short docks jutted out into the dark water around which small boats were gathered. "Right. All ye have ter do is step in. Five ter a boat please! An' please don't be fallin' in! The giant squid isn' very friendly when he's been woken up."

Several of the first years surrounding them looked around nervously as they grouped together to enter the boats. Luckily, no one fell in the lake, and soon the boats were gliding by themselves across the water. Professor Hagrid's boat cut a path through the dark star flecked water, sending ripples out to the edges. "You'll be seein' yer firs' look o' Hogwarts in jus' a mo!" he called out for them as they started to round the tip of a peninsula jutting into the lake.

The giant man spoke true, because as soon as they had cleared the land, they could see a massive castle sitting on top of a cliff. Several towers jutted from it's massive edifice and they could see lights on through many of the windows. Maddy and Vi stared in awe at the huge castle, but were startled out of their gawking when their boat bumped into a stone wharf. "Righ', let's keep goin'!" Hagrid called out as he led them into a door at the base of the cliff.

There were a lot of stairs to climb, and most of the first years were huffing and puffing by the time they reached the top, but eventually they came out into a huge entrance hall. Massive wooden doors were closed off to the left, and a grand staircase led to upper floors to the right. "Wait here then," Hagrid motioned for them to halt while he slipped inside the oak doors to the left.

Hushed whispers broke out all around. "I'm gonna be in Ravenclaw! Me whole family has!" one girl said excitedly.

"Oh yeah? Well I'm gonna be in Gryffindor! That's the house Harry Potter was in, you know!"

"Ain't some of Potter's kids here now?"

A soft chuckling was heard from nearby and Maddy and Vi turned to find a dark haired pale boy with brown eyes standing next to a black-haired boy with sorrel skin. Behind them was a light brunette girl who looked to be friends with them. Both boys were smirking while the girl was rolling her eyes. They turned to face Maddy and Vi when they caught them staring. "Name's James Potter," the pale boy said quietly. However the whole group of first years heard anyway, and suddenly the name James Potter was being whispered through the crowd as fingers pointed and people stood on tip toe to see. "This is my cousin Fred Weasley and our friend Allison Longbottom."

"Nice to meet you, Violet Hayden," Vi reached out a hand to shake with.

"Madeline Jacobson," Maddy introduced herself too.

"You both muggleborns?" Fred asked. "Ain't heard of any Jacobsons or Hayden families."

"Fred!" Allison reprimanded him with a glare.

"What? Just asking a question!"

Allison let out a sigh and folded her arms across her chest. Fred looked about to say more when a man with navy blue robes, dark wavy hair, and tan skin stepped out from behind the oak doors. "Good evening everyone!" he said. "I'm Aeneas Bedivere, Deputy Headmaster of Hogwarts. Very shortly, you will be entering the Great Hall to be sorted into one of the four houses. The houses, named after their founders, are Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. While at Hogwarts, your house will be your family. You will eat with your house and have class with your house. Points are tallied for good things you do through the year. Professors and the Headboy and Headgirl are able to award points, as well as take them away should you do something that warrants it." At this he gave the first years a stern look. His thick dark brows lowering. "The house with the most points at the end of the year will win the house cup. Okay, it sounds like they're ready, so if you'll follow me, we'll begin."

At this, he led the first years into the Great Hall. Many of the muggleborns looked around in awe as they saw long tables with hundreds of students seated around them, candles floating in midair, ghosts gliding above them, and a single stool sitting at the front with a ragged looking hat upon it. Aeneas motioned for them to stop as he continued forward to stand next to the stool. "As I call your name, you will step forward and sit on the stool. I shall place the hat on your head, and it will sort you into your future house."

Aeneas Bedivere opened a scroll he'd been carrying under one arm and it rolled down to the ground, stopping at his feet. "Applegate, Georgie!" he called out first. A timid boy with blond hair emerged from the gathering of first years to sit on the stool first. Bedivere lowered the hat onto his head. It was so large, it covered everything down to his nose. A seam near the hat's base opened then and began to speak. It hmm'd and haw'd until it finally pronounced, "HUFFLEPUFF!"

The table decked out in yellow and black stood and cheered as their first new member joined them. The sorting went a bit quicker after that. The hat seemed to know just where to place the first years. Though there were a few that it seemed to have a little trouble with. Ten minutes later, "Hayden, Violet!" was called. Vi looked back at Maddy and gave her a nervous thumbs up before walking up to the stool. She sat down as the hat obscured her vision, a small voice whispered in her ear. Ah! Yes, great intelligence! You would do well in Ravenclaw.

Yes! Violet thought.

But there's also much bravery here. You would have many friends in Gryffindor.

A fleeting thought of herself decked out in red and gold crossed through Violet's mind, but she had already decided. Well… if you're sure. Better be, "RAVENCLAW!"

The blue table cheered as Violet happily skipped over to them. She turned back to Maddy who was still waiting and grinned. Madeline returned the smile, but continued to wait anxiously. All too soon, Aeneas Bedivere was calling out, "Jacobson, Madeline!"

Maddy slowly approached the hat. She didn't know where it would place her. She wasn't sure where she wanted to be either. The hat lowered over her head and a low voice whispered to her. Hmm… courage, yes… also intelligence too.

Not as smart as Vi though. She thought absently.

Perhaps not… oh, but there's much ambition here. I could see you rising to greatness.

Greatness? Me?

Hmm, yes indeed… the voice paused for a second before finally making its decision. "SLYTHERIN!"

Madeline looked around in shock as the hat was lifted off her. "But…" she trailed off looking over at the green and silver table. "I'm muggleborn."

"Off you go then," Aeneas Bedivere said patting her shoulder.

Madeline stood and moved to join the Slytherin table. As she walked, she looked longingly over at the Ravenclaws. Vi was smiling brightly and cheering for her just as loudly as the Slytherins. "GO MADDY!"

Madeline blushed, and grinned at her friend's antics. Feeling slightly better, she found a seat next to an older girl with sepia skin and long black hair pulled into a braid before turning to watch as "Jalal, Hasib!" was called up.

A few minutes later, "Longbottom, Allison!" was called out and the hall went quiet. Everyone watched in anticipation as the mousy haired girl walked up to the front and sat down on the stool. The hat lowered over her eyes and seemed to take an eternity before it shouted out, "SLYTHERIN!"

Everyone gasped and Professor Longbottom looked shocked for a moment before a roar of excitement went up from the green table. As the hat lifted off of the girl's head, she turned with a worried look to see her father. Professor Longbottom was all smiles though and gave his daughter two thumbs up. The girl smiled as well and hopped down from the stool to join the green clad students. She took the spot next to Maddy and the two girls grinned at each other.

A few more students were called up then finally the one everyone seemed to be waiting for. "Potter, James!"

"That's Harry Potter's first kid!" excited whispers raced around the hall. Vi had also explained for her friend about the end of the war that was fought at Hogwarts and who had played key roles, so Maddy was just as excited as everyone else as James walked confidently up to the stool. He had sat down and the hat barely touched his head before it shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!"

"Psh! Expected," some of the other students were saying around them. There were quite a few other students to be sorted yet and Maddy and Vi watched patiently as the numbers of their tables grew slowly. Finally, "Weasley, Fred!" was called and the ginger who had been with James Potter sprinted to the front. He sat down, gripping the edges of the stool tightly. However, just like James, the hat barely touched his head before shouting, "GRYFFINDOR!"

The scarlet table burst into cheers again, though several people noticed the staff table looking at James and Fred with worried expressions. Finally, the last student was next. "Xavier, Miguel!" became the last Ravenclaw.

Loud chatter filled the Great Hall until a slender African Welsh woman stood up from the center of the staff table. "Thank you! Thank you! To those returning, welcome back! To our first years, we hope to see great things from you! Now, I'll keep this short… Tuck in!" At her last words, food magically appeared at every table and suddenly every first year whose stomach had been turning in knots pre-sorting was ravenous.